Buchanan County Conservation

The Conservation Board offices are located at Fontana Park Interpretive Nature Center. Buchanan County Conservation Board provides parks, prairies, woodlands, wetlands, and river accesses for both people and wildlife. The Conservation Board manages 41 properties, and features an award-winning Environmental Education Program. The Conservation Board's mission is to "improve quality of life through programs of conservation and education."

Nature Center can open by appointment by calling (319) 636-2617Winter: Nature Center may be closed if travel conditions are "Not Advised," please call in advance (319) 636-2617.After October 1 campsites are not reservable, but still are available on a first come basis through much of the fall season. Water and showerhouse will not be available until April 15. Please call (319) 636-2617 for further information about site. Upcoming Public Programs

Trick or Treat for the AnimalsSaturday, October 27, 9 AMFontana Park Wildlife DisplayPreregistration is required

Help carve some creative pumpkins and then fill them with tasty and nutritious treats for our resident raccoon, fox, bison, ducks, coyotes, bear, turkeys, and rabbits in the Fontana Park Wildlife Display. The pumpkins then will be placed in the animals’ enclosures for a treat that’s a trick to get into. This is a popular program so be sure to get preregistered. Click here to get preregistered.

Coyote Club is for kids age 6-10 who are interested in nature, animals, and outdoor fun! Participants engage with the Naturalist at Fontana Park, with programs scattered throughout the year. The upcoming Coyote Club Program features bats. Bats are important to our environment and even to humans. The group will talk about bats and following the talk there will be a hike to try and find some prime bat habitat. Snack and drink are provided, and Coyote Club members receive a special Club drawstring backpack. Click here to get preregistered.

The Friends of Fontana Park (FFP) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to help fund the Buchanan County Conservation Board's environmental education programs. The FFP provides most of the material costs for the wildlife display, nature center exhibits, quarterly newsletters, and some of the many educational programs and exhibits offered at Fontana and other Buchanan County parks. For more information on Friends of Fontana Park and how you can contribute to this 501c3 organization, click here.

WE NEED TO PROTECT IOWA’S NATURAL AREAS• Roughly half of Iowa’s rivers, lakes, and streams fail to meet water quality standards• Less than 10 percent of Iowa’s wetlands – natural spaces that help prevent flooding and provide habitat for wildlife – remain, amounting to a loss of 5 million acres of wetlands• Over the last two decades, Iowa has lost more than 1.6 million acres of habitat suitable for pheasants and other small game• Iowa loses an average of 5 tons per acre of soil, our major economic engine, each year to erosionClick here to learn about Fund the Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund

Would you like to find out more about wildlife, county programs, Iowa fishing reports and more? Please email dcohen@co.buchanan.ia.us to be placed on the Conservation List serve. You will receive approximately 2-3 emails a week about conservation programs in Iowa.